MLB Rumors

Angels shortstop Erick Aybar collected two hits for the fourth time in six games and for the eighth time in June during Tuesday's 3-2 loss to the Mariners. Aybar is batting .360 (9 for 25) in his last six games and .277 (18 for 65) in 16 June games.

Aybar also has seven RBI in his last six games after managing just two RBI in his previous 10 games.

With the July 31 non-waiver trade deadline looming, Astros starting pitcher Bud Norris admits it's hard to overlook he's a potential candidate to be traded, according to FOX Sports.

"It’s hard to talk about it, in all honesty," Norris said. "There’s a lot going on around me. I’ve seen a lot of trades in my 3 1/2 years up here. Now that my name’s the one popping up, it’s a little different feeling. At the end of the day, I need to prepare myself to pitch every five days for the team I’m on. I’ve been in Houston my entire career. All I know is pitching for this team. If it changes, it changes. But it’s not going to change my aspect of going out there and pitching."

Norris isn't a free agent until after the 2015 season, so the Astros don't have to deal him. However, he's a good pitcher with a reasonable salary and could provide a lift to a contender's rotation. 

"You have to be informed," he said. "I don’t think you want to be blindsided by it: One day, you come to the park and, boom, you’re gone. I don’t pay too much attention to it, but I’m definitely in the loop. I get tidbits here and there ... But it comes down to the front office. I have to impress somebody enough where they want to come get me."

The Nationals have reinstated second baseman Danny Espinosa from the disabled list and optioned him to Triple-A Syracuse, The Washington Times reports.

Espinosa has been at Syracuse for six games on a rehab assignment, in which he has hit a brutal .118/.238/.118. Espinosa has been dealing with a fractured right wrist for much of the season. General manager Mike Rizzo previously said Espinosa needs to "show what he's capable of," and so he'll have to start hitting at Syracuse if he is to get a chance to unseat Anthony Rendon at second base in Washington.

Despite Zach Britton's surprising performance in a winning effort Tuesday against the Tigers, Orioles manager Buck Showalter is non-committal when it comes to the subject of Britton earning another start, according to The Baltimore Sun. Britton's status hinges on Jason Hammel's recovery from a stomach virus and Miguel Gonzalez's return from a paternity leave.

"He’s an option," Showalter said of Britton. "We’ve got a lot of things going on. We’re taking a look at [Wei-Yin] Chen’s outing on Thursday, see where we project him after that, see when Ham, when Ham’s comfortable to go and when we see Miguel back. We [don’t] know what the plans are until you get it here. And Freddy [Garcia], if we have to use Freddy out of the 'pen or not tomorrow. We’ll proceed, and see where it takes us. He did a nice job, all things considered. I’d like to see him get a little deeper."

Yankees manager Joe Girardi said prior to Wednesday's doubleheader against the Dodgers the plan is to give rookie outfielder Zoilo Almonte, who was recalled from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Tuesday, a start Wednesday against Los Angeles and one against a right-handed starter in the weekend series against the Rays.

Girardi is impressed with Almonte, who was batting .354 in 16 June games prior to his promotion. 

"We really believe this kid is going to hit," Girardi said, per The Journal News. "At times, we really saw it in spring training. He struggled a little bit in spring training. Maybe it was the excitement of trying to make a team. But he has seemed to swing the bat pretty well down there, especially left-handed. He’s a guy that can play either left or right, which is helpful in this situation."

Red Sox closer Andrew Bailey was hit with his second blown save in his last four appearances Tuesday against the Rays. Bailey also has an 11.25 ERA and .412 opponents' batting average in his last four outings (four innings).

On Wednesday, Red Sox manager John Farrell tried to explain during an interview with MLB Network Radio why Bailey has been struggling.

"When he's been jumpy, moving away from rubber too quick, that's when fastball command goes away," Farrell said.

Orioles manager Buck Showalter said Wednesday second baseman Brian Roberts (hamstring) could be ready for a minor-league rehab assignment early next week. Roberts has been sidelined since early April.

Astros first baseman Carlos Pena connected for a three-run homer off Brewers starter Alfredo Figaro Tuesday. It was his seventh home run and first in 11 games.

Pena hasn't had an overly productive June. He's homered three times in 16 games, but he's batting just .157 (8 for 51) with 16 strikeouts. Pena has two doubles, six RBI, six walks and eight runs in June as well.

Angels first baseman/outfielder Mark Trumbo homered for the first time in 11 games Tuesday against the Mariners. Trumbo hit a solo home run off Mariners starter Jeremy Bonderman.

Trumbo is batting .241 (13 for 54) in his last 15 games, but he's homered four times and driven in 10 runs in that span.

Trumbo has done his best work offensively when he's played at first base. He's batting .295 with a .537 slugging percentage, .900 OPS, nine doubles, nine home runs and 27 RBI in 40 games at first base.

Phillies starter Carlos Zambrano dominated in his most recent minor-league start Tuesday at Triple-A Lehigh Valley.

The 32-year-old threw seven shutout innings against Toledo. He allowed just five hits and a walk against seven strikeouts. Zambrano has a 0.95 ERA in 28 1/3 innings between three minor-league levels and a 1.50 ERA in two starts at Lehigh Valley. He could be added to the Phillies rotation if starters like Jonathan Pettibone continue to struggle.